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He sounds like a super knowledgable but personable guy. He was really positive about the mind set of the boys. Said they were very focused and determined. Players he hadnt met yet calling him from overseas to ask about preparation. Also said only 2 or 3 would be starting late due to surgery this year as opposed to 16-17 last year. A good listen.

3 for 7 & 10 would be a great result. Not sure any other options seem quite good enough. Geelong’s picks don’t really excite me. Having 7, 8 & 10 does.

What else is there to say however @McQueen? Not many trophies in the cabinet recently, aside from the bad boy below....

Like admitting to having watched the Footy Show and pretending it was only for the pictures, it pains me to poach from Stuie's self-constructed simpleton temple that is Melbourne Demon News facebook page, but apparently Burgess was was on SEN and said the following, according to a Stuie acolyte: - 90%/10% on ‘footballing‘ sessions v running sessions over the preseason for the Dees. - Seniors return Monday week: 4 sessions per week + weights and gym; - All MFC staff are cognisant of the abilities of first to fourth year players, expectations need to be managed as well as harnessing doubt that younger players may have about their abilities; - Tracking very well from a preparation point of view with only two players expecting a delayed start (no names given).

The below is music to my ears given our high quality skill level last season. “I will be heavily involved in the kicking program. People think kicking is solely technical but there are so many other elements, so hopefully we can teach the players to make better decisions, or easier decisions, so that the technical side becomes easier.”

This is good. Skills, sure ... the biggest thing he has to pass on is his steel trap football brain. He's been the pioneer for the "experienced onfield coach" which all the lower sides now want in their side. (To be fair, Cross was probably the prototype for this.) "How to win" will be his most important teaching. It's a testament to what the club is building that he has stuck around and not washed his hands of us. GO DEMONS!!!

Jaguar Australia signs on for 2020

Another good session for the young guys Nev and Steven May were there rehabbing Joel Smith, Weid, Petty, KK as well Mostly ball work for whole session with 5 minutes running at the end All the rehabbers are fine, just slowly building up to join main group, asked all of them Work again unfortunately so will post pics on Insta later tonight

Mate, it’s not rocket science. The draftees enter the interview process armed with carefully crafted and rehearsed answers to the standard lineup of questions. The “weird” questions are purely designed to “throw” the kids off their game, make them think laterally and begin to reveal their true personalities. It’s all about getting honest answers to the later questions. The immediate answers to the weird questions are not taken into account one iota.

I think the possibility and push to play our first final in a loooong while would adequately explain this. We rolled the dice and lost, twice... once in Perth and then throughout 2019. Good lessons for a maturing group.

Burgess has a wealth of information, in regards of not only the fitness of an AFL player, but also the mental health of the players. I think as fans, we may not even think, of the mental health of a player/players; and how that can also affect the out come of a match; and even a whole season.

I would do Cripps and then brag about it to my wife. Does that make me bad?

“I picked the big fluffy ball and it just looked really appealing.” See ball get ball. Takes first option. Plenty to learn here Ding.

It would be great for us, but I just don't see Freo doing it. They will be keen on Jackson and Robertson. At least one of them will still be there at 7, maybe both. No one will bid on Henry before 7. At worst, they pick at 7 and pay 10 for Henry. At best, they get players at 7 and 10, and pay for Henry with later picks. If they trade 3, at best the get a player at 3 (who might be there at 7), and pay for Henry with later picks. It just doesn't make any sense for them to do they trade unless they really, really rate someone.

Obviously there’s no guarantees but Kemp has all the tools to become a Bontempelli/Fyfe type of player and the only reason he won’t be a top 5 pick is due to his knee injury. I’ve watched several of the U18 matches in their entirety and I can see the Bont/Fyfe resemblance. I just feel that if he is there at pick 8, we take the long term view and pick him. Hopefully the club feels the same.

I have wondered the same tging, but i think you are exactly right. They rolled the dice with the possible reward a flag. As the doggies and tigers showed you need to take your chance if it presents. The right move I reckon.

Agree to some extent, in that we poorly managed/planned our 2019 season and paid for it dearly. However, hopefully the three finals we played will be an invaluable experience and investment for the coming years, unlike the Bulldogs this year who's finals campaign lasted 5 minutes. We've showed we can handle MCG finals heat in front of 90,000! Furthermore, the way some of our ' 2018-2019 rehab' players such as Viney, Petracca, Harmes, T Mac and Jetta all played in August and September 2018 probably couldn't justify an early finish to their seasons for surgery,

Just listened to the Burgess interview through SEN over here in America and I am sooo impressed in his lateral thinking and overall presence.

perhaps not everyone, or every entity is reactionary as you?

This is a good, strong decision from the club and it goes well beyond kicking improvement(which is desperately needed!) He has a footy brain and ability to actually communicate what he knows. He showed it on the ground under pressure (until his last few weeks anyway) and now has time to plan, develop and implement an entire kicking program. Articulate footballers are few and far between so well done the people who convinced him and signed him. He has a physical presence based on a mindset that wants to dominate and destroy his opponents. At Hawthorn and a couple of times at the Dees this mindset crossed the line into thuggery which I don't like, but in the main I hope he is also able to demonstrate to the other players how to be mentally strong and physically imposing as well as how to kick.

I love everything the club is coming out with in recent weeks, it really flies in the face of a few doomsayer posters on this site. I thought this club was in crisis? I mean; Goodwin was to be sacked (didn't eventuate, and ended up signing Richardson to help Goodwin the same week), players wanted out en mass (didn't eventuate, with only 1 player requesting a trade after we didn't offer a contract), Lewis leaving the club disenfranchised (didn't eventuate, and ended up signing him up as a part time kicking coach). Am I seeing a pattern here? Everything that some have posted as gospel of a club in crisis hasn't occurred, and in fact in most cases, has ended up being the exact opposite!

I'm sorry, that was am attempt at humor. Sarcasm font would be handy. It was a fantastic post that I did enjoy reading and I can appreciate the amount of work you put into it, so thank you. To be perfectly honest I agree with those that see O Mac's upside. I think he played a fantastic role of a stopping defender 2 seasons ago, and he wasn't alone last season. I am 6'3" and 140kg that could only manage half a game in the forward pocket of the beer league seconds, where I barely got a touch, I don't have a right to comment on anyone's footballing ability, least of all someone who has dedicated their entire life to playing at the elite level. Oscar McDonald would fart more football talent than my entire career combined, I hope I'm lucky enough to shout him a beer one day.

is @TGR the guy who I saw post recently claiming that Lewis didnt buy into the MFC? Must feel a bit silly now. Jordan could have got a gig at just about any club but came back to us.

"People think kicking is solely technical but there are so many other elements, so hopefully we can teach the players to make better decisions, or easier decisions, so that the technical side becomes easier.” At least someone gets it.

I take that was with Wells from Geelong? I reckon that deal is wishful thinking on their part. Why would we trade out pick 26, 50 (which will come back in to the low 40's) and 2020 first round pick (possibly 8 to 10 if we miss finals or pick 10-14 by making finals) for North's pick 8, to then trade it out for 14 and 17 (likely to be 16 and 20 after F/S and Academy picks), to Geelong? Rolling the dice and hoping that Weightman (or whoever) is there at 16 is sheer folly. A few clubs want to trade up into the top 10. GCS is one. Competition means if a club wants pick 8 they need to pay up for it. People might make a case for a Geelong deal based on draft points but if a pick is in demand the market sets the price. Two late 1st round picks just doesn't cut it.

We’re taking about the same player right? The 170cm guy who kicks one goal every second match? What attributes does he have that have shot him up the draft boards suddenly? He’s not a big goal scorer - averaged 0.5 goals a game at senior SAFL level. He’s got a good leap - but he needs to have a good leap to even just be competitive at 170cms. He’s quick, but not elite quick - not in top 20 tested. He has poor-average endurance - doesn’t find much ball, averaged 10 touches. His best attribute is he provides good defensive pressure around packs in the forward line. Statistically he’s identical to Charlie Spargo. IMO the best outcome for his career would be an in form Jeff Garlett. Don’t get me wrong, he could be a handy little small forward and have a decent career, but at pick 8 you can pick up much better than that. It would be negligent for the club to draft him at pick 8.

Spring is a time for new life, renewal, optimism and positive feelings.. For footy and the Demons it all starts again. We can enjoy the training reports, reading of new coaches, new methods, the development of young players and draftees, of players tearing it up, and of worrying off-season injuries. Are players showing endeavour, intensity, and improvement ? And, of course, we have the gossip and unsubstantiated stories of the lives and behaviour of players and coaches. In most cases, the cycle of footy life gives us new hopes and expectations, that things will be different in 2020. At the same time, some things remain the same, like the Leaning Tower of Pisa, The Universal Truths, and the capriciousness of human behaviour. In the case of Demonland, we have the training reports and readers rushing to renew their criticisms and biases. The comments from posters that represent all the vagaries of human behaviour surface like the rising sun and moon. We have the dreamers, the doomsayers, the optimists, the logical, the analytical, the rational, the humourous, the silly and the emotional. All have their say. We all have this irrational and emotional deep seated relationship with a footy club. It takes us to the very highs and the very lows of mood and feeling. How crazy and sentimental. But we can maintain our sanity by escaping from the world and its problems and of our own failings and disappointments. And despite life's disappointments, our footy team gives us our identity and sense of belonging despite everything. Posters may irritate and annoy. You may never want to meet those that annoy most, but there is a bond, a common cause, a common reason why we tap onto this site to comment, like any other addiction. It may wax and wane, but it will never go away until we meet our maker. Even then we may not be able to achieve eternal peace without That Flag.

It's a great time of the year. We haven't lost a game in months, and I can't see us losing one for at least another 4 more

So the player/s who failed to update their app will be putting their hands into their pockets to pay the fine? I’d hope so

From the story....... Kemp might’ve sat out on the draft combine due to his knee injury, but it didn’t stop Sydney asking the utility a puzzling question during the interview process. “(There was) a fake spider, big blue ball where you squeeze it, jelly, a puzzle and one of those slap bracelets,” he said. This sort of garbage would have me walking out of an interview. Psychobabble has invaded far too many areas of the AFL, and if it helped you identify a future champion i would be absolutely flabbergasted. Only people who rate Mission Statements would believe a question like this could help identify a future champ. A 17-18 year old male has tons of mental development left, and his answer would change practically every year. Word wankery at its best. Cue the triggered Psychologists..........................

And i thought a week was a long time in footy RR!

I am quite passionate about cycling and have read some respected international level coaches who believe the volume is key, versus intensity. This is to get people doing well in events ranging from 90mins full gas or 5-6 hours. It's also worth noting a guy that trains for the 100m sprint still does an absolutel mountain of hours of running throughtout the year for a 9-10 second event. AFL players do very little training compared to many high level international sports, but we have the added variable of body impact/collision which requires management during the week.

I find Stevens' highlights difficult to rate. Certainly breaks lines and has skills, but he won't get anywhere near as much time and space at AFL level, and he doesn't appear to be super clean in the contest. Good players his size have serious tricks - he strikes me as a flashier ANB type. Unless we draft him of course, in which case I'll believe he's Robbie Flower reincarnated. At this stage I'd prefer others.

As I have posted before "The year we had to have" has allowed Pert the opportunity to go thru the entire organisation, an 'Off Field' rebuild. So much support now for Goodwin that hopefully he can prosper and with that more wins and a stronger culture.

Jared Polec, Shane Edwards, Brodie Smith, Wayne Milera, Hamish Hartlett and could make an argument for a young Shaun Burgoyne. Stephens’ is a country Victorian who’s played senior footy - in the Bush and at league level, did he suddenly get soft because he boarded in Adelaide not Shepp like Clayton Oliver or Caulfield like James Jordon? The height is a valid concern, I like mids who are 6’2 rather than barely 6’. Makes an important difference for versatility and ball winning, but if you play like Richmond and run run run it doesn’t matter. Why did Toumpas and Trengove fail - because they couldn’t run. This kid can seriously run and the tackles and contested ball percentages are good. He’ll start on the outside but he’s 18! Let him win more contested ball when he’s 23.

Together with Dr Peter Brukner (world-renowned Australian sports medicine clinician and researcher) What an awesome world leading Medical & sports science combo!

We've done well with Bernie, Crossy and now lewis staying on at the club after they have finished. Very good for morale and club building.

thanks for the pics Satyr great to see the players hard at work

Spargo would kick 6 a game at SANFL reserves level. The Pickett stuff is hilarious.

This thread summarised: I don't understand what this trip is for or what the coaches will get from it, therefore it's a waste of time and money.

No, your comment just belies a certain ignorance. Not everybody who takes drugs is an out-of-control sports-idiot. I’ve known many wonderful and inspiring people who aren’t afraid or ashamed to pepper their brief time on earth, with pleasurable, illuminating and enlightening moments spent in altered states. As a professional musician, I can assure you that if it weren’t for drugs your favourite band would sound very different or most likely not exist at all. I shudder to think who they might be though.

Sounds positive. Looking forward to a fitter and healthier Melbourne side.

Young at 3, Stephens or Kemp at 8. I'd be disappointed if we split the picks.

Because he's not coming, it's quite simple really. People need to actually start accepting that he's never coming to us. He's hellbent on Carlton and that's it.

A history of drug use doesn't necessarily make you a [censored]

There does indeed. For once I am going to resist the temptation to be a smart [censored] and simply point out there are a number of posters who have had a clear agenda to paint the club as being in crisis. And provided zero evidence other than sculltebut and ghost like rumours to prosecute that case. The is goody the right coach was the favoured medium for this cabal. When I have pushed back on this front some have accused me of being a club lackey. Some of the less credible of this group have hilariously, seemingly seriously suggested I am an mfc employee reverse trolling. Well that group have gone very quiet of late as the evidence builds of a club that is the very opposite of the baskstcae some have tried so hard to paint us as.

It is the contact work, they introduce them gradually to it, when you have been out you need the rehab Clarry 'accidentally' flattened someone today in a drill, but they bounced straight up couldn't tell who it was because of bib Whole squad is not back for another week an a half, so the rehabbers can use this time to be cherry ripe to join it I stood next to Joel Smith, in great nick doesn't cover it Will post some pics either tonight or tomorrow

What a waste of time and money. I’ve actually been to the US and they don’t even play AFL there, so this whole trip is completely pointless.